An outdoor handrail costs $50 to $230 per linear foot installed, averaging about $700 for a 5-foot section, while indoor stair railings run $500 to $1,300 (HomeAdvisor) in 2026.1,2,4 Wood starts around $20 to $30 per foot; cable, glass and fiberglass reach $200 to $600.1,3 Prices below are national averages* for 2026.
*National averages, not local quotes. Your price depends on the material, length, mounting surface and whether the job is indoor or outdoor.
$700
avg 5-ft outdoor handrail
$50 – $230
per linear ft outdoor
$500 – $1,300
indoor stair railing
$30
outdoor labor per ft
Outdoor handrail cost by material
| Material | Cost per linear ft installed |
|---|---|
| Vinyl | $25 – $45 |
| Wood | $30 – $60 |
| Aluminum | $40 – $60 |
| Steel | $40 – $60 |
| Composite | $40 – $75 |
| Wrought iron | $50 – $120 |
| Cable | $50 – $200 |
| Glass panels | $100 – $250 |
| Fiberglass | $150+ |
Figures from HomeGuide.1 Angi’s outdoor handrail article prints the identical table and the same $700 average, so count them as one dataset, not two.2 Labor averages about $30 per linear foot on top of materials for outdoor work.1,2
Outdoor cost by length (HomeGuide)
| Length | Low end | High end |
|---|---|---|
| 5 linear ft | $250 – $400 | $700 – $1,150 |
| 10 linear ft | $500 – $800 | $1,400 – $2,300 |
| 15 linear ft | $750 – $1,200 | $2,100 – $3,450 |
| 20 linear ft | $1,000 – $1,600 | $2,800 – $4,600 |
HomeGuide notes a railing beside three to five porch steps typically needs only 5 linear feet, and that any porch, patio or deck more than 30 inches off the ground generally requires a railing under building codes.1
Indoor stair railing by material
| Material | HomeGuide | HomeAdvisor |
|---|---|---|
| Wood | $20 – $60 | $10 – $40 |
| Stainless steel | $50 – $250 | $25 – $110 |
| Wrought iron | $65 – $135 | $50 – $120 |
| Cable | $60 – $500 | $60 – $220 |
| Glass | $100 – $600 | $100 – $500 |
| Aluminum | $50 – $200 | n/a |
HomeGuide totals $500 to $6,300 for a 25-linear-foot stair railing installed.3 A full staircase replacement, for comparison, costs $2,000 to $7,000 or more.3
Indoor cost by railing length (HomeAdvisor)
| Length | Average cost range |
|---|---|
| 8 linear ft | $80 – $800 |
| 10 linear ft | $100 – $1,000 |
| 12 linear ft | $120 – $1,200 |
| 16 linear ft | $160 – $1,600 |
Labor, removal and extras (HomeAdvisor)
| Item | Cost |
|---|---|
| Railing removal | $70 – $150 per hour |
| Installation labor | $70 – $150 per hour; most jobs take 5 – 10 hours |
| Balusters | $3 – $17 per piece |
| Painting / refinishing | up to $20 per linear ft for detailed work |
Permit estimates clash. Angi says to budget $20 to $30 for an outdoor handrail permit; HomeGuide says permits and inspections run $50 to $300 depending on the municipality.1,2 Both agree to check with your local building department before starting, and that is the advice we would follow too.
Angi also budgets weatherproofing treatments at $20 to $85 per gallon for wood in wet climates.2 Anchoring into concrete steps costs more than wall-mounting into wood framing because of the drilling and anchors involved.1
DIY or hire
A wall-mounted handrail into studs is one of the more approachable DIY installs (our view); stair railings with balusters, concrete anchoring and anything guarding a drop belong to pros, and HomeAdvisor warns a poorly anchored railing is a safety hazard.4 Home Depot’s handrail section carries wall-mount and stair handrails (plain link, not affiliate).
Related guides
Stair lift cost
Deck and Porch Railing Cost
Screened-In Porch Cost
Stair Stringer Calculator
All cost guides
Sources
1. HomeGuide — Outdoor Handrail Installation Cost
2. Angi — Outdoor Handrail Installation Cost (shares HomeGuide’s figures)
3. HomeGuide — Cost to Install Stair Railings and Balusters
4. HomeAdvisor — What Do Stair Railings Cost to Install?